Savings made by cuts to special educational needs provisions have been ‘wiped out’ by increasing costs, financial chiefs at Bracknell Forest Council have warned.

The executive officer for resources said it was ‘incredibly’ frustrating that cost-cutting measures are being swamped by spiralling costs, as the council is set for an SEN overspend of £8.5 million this financial year.

Finance bosses budgeted for an overspend of £6.4m - but now they say they will miss this target by £2.1m.

The council had closed a pupil referral unit and axed around half a dozen council staff jobs as part of recent cuts, according to the executive director for resources at the council, Stuart McKellar.

The council must reduce it overspend on an annual basis as part of a government ‘safety valve’ scheme, which will grant funding that will create two specialist schools in the area.

Through the scheme with the Department for Education, an SEN unit has opened in Sandhurst, with another set to open at Edgebarrow school in 2026.

A specialist school for children with social and emotional health needs will open in Warfield, as well as a school for children with autism in Buckler’s Park.

The council is looking at 'all options' while continuing to support pupils in an effort to reduce costs as far as possible, according to Mr McKellar.

Mr McKellar said: “We are just looking to trim costs as far as we can by doing things differently, making it more efficient.”

But the executive director for resources said that gains made to cut are being ‘wiped out’ by rising costs in provision.

The council is projected to overspend by £8.5 million over it’s £137 million dedicated schools grant this year. This is down slightly from an overspend of £9 million last year.

Mr McKellar said: “The number of EHCPs are rising, the cost of external provisions Is still rising.

“There’s widespread recognition that the current system is just unsustainable. It defines eligibility in a way which significantly exceeds the resources available to support it.”

The local authority has seen significant senior staff turnover and a high number of watchdog complaints, an investigation by The Bracknell News revealed earlier this month.

Nearly 150 parents have also signed an open letter to the council addressing their ‘deep dissatisfaction’ with progress made since entering the safety valve.

Mr McKellar said that the government is ‘satisfied’ with progress making, with the council ‘on track to deliver the vast majority’ of actions requested to reduce spending.

Bracknell’s position is alike many other local authorities across the country – where spending on SEN has reached a huge £10 billion.